IndieView with L.A. Arbuckle, author of Conditional Love

I wanted these characters to seem like they could be your own family members, or someone in your sphere, with issues that are real and familiar.

L.A. Arbuckle – 29 June 2025

The Back Flap

Neva Stevenson’s 25 years of guilt and regret stem from a family shattered by trauma and the whiskey-soaked choices she made after. Those years scarred her three children and twisted their adult lives into a dysfunctional mess. Now, Neva would do anything to keep them from repeating her mistakes.

Sassy and unrelenting, she concocts a wild plan to coerce them into changes by issuing a deadline and dishing out the “mother” of all ultimatums.

Her children aren’t buying it. To them, her redemption scheme is a step too far, even for Neva. They push back, and a firestorm erupts that splinters their fragile truce: sparking tempers, opening wounds, and unraveling secrets long buried.

Conditional Love, L.A. Arbuckle’s debut, blends Midwest grit with witty, literary prose, earning “literary gold” praise (Women’s Insider). Likened to Big Little Lies and The Nest, this bittersweet drama explores family, trauma, and forgiveness with complex characters and a surprise ending. Conditional Love is a bold, bittersweet clash of family, love, and the conditions we place on them both.

About the book

What is the book about?

Conditional Love is a witty, bold, bittersweet clash of family, relationships, and love, and the conditions we place on them all.
 
Neva Stevenson has spent 25 years haunted by guilt and regret. It began the brutal day her family was shattered, followed by the years of whiskey-fueled decisions she made after. Those years scarred her three children and twisted their adult lives into a dysfunctional mess. Now, Neva would do anything to keep them from repeating her mistakes.

But is there a limit to a mother’s influence?

A lucky lottery ticket gives Neva a chance to find out. Sassy and unrelenting, she concocts a wild plan to coerce them into changes by issuing a deadline and dishing out the “mother” of all ultimatums.

Her children aren’t buying it. To them, her redemption-by-lottery scheme is a step too far, even for Neva. They push back, and a firestorm erupts that splinters their fragile truce: sparking tempers, opening wounds, and unraveling secrets long buried.

Will Neva’s gamble heal her broken family, or tear them further apart?

When did you start writing the book?

The book actually started as a screenplay in 2006, which earned finalist positions in two of the largest international screenwriting competitions and garnered Hollywood attention.

How long did it take you to write it?

I wrote the original screenplay in about 6 weeks. When it came time to adapt the screenplay to a novel, it took much longer. The screenplay had gotten so much positive attention, I was terrified that I would ruin it by attempting it as my first novel. I agonized over the smallest decisions, had three professional edits, and kept editing right up to the day I published. The novel version took me almost 3 years to finish.

Where did you get the idea from?

The idea for Conditional Love was shaped by a conversation I had with my husband about what we would do if we won the lottery. When I said I would put “conditions” on giving money to one of my siblings, it sparked an even deeper conversation and the idea for the story. We all have that one friend or family member that we desperately wish would change something about their lives. The question is: Would we have the balls to demand it, if we had a carrot big enough to coerce them to do it?

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The relationship between Tom (the brother) and his wife were difficult for me. I wanted her to get what was coming to her but struggled with the confines of the genre. Had I written her downfall in the way I wanted to, it would have read more like a horror story. Kris’s backstory was also very difficult to write.

What came easily?

Neva. Neva’s development was a cathartic process for me. She’s just a mother who was dealt a crappy hand and slogging through life the best she could. A woman that is looking back at her life and how she raised her kids, doubting herself and the choices she made, like we all do, but is just ballsy enough to try to change everything with this outrageous plan. Her ultimatum stems from love and desperation, emotions most readers connect with, especially mother’s and all women navigating life’s tough choices.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

All the characters are fictitious. However, Neva is a mix of my dad, me, and a couple real-life women I’ve met—fierce, flawed, and unapologetically themselves. I wanted these characters to seem like they could be your own family members, or someone in your sphere, with issues that are real and familiar.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I’m an eclectic reader, diving into everything from Diana Gabaldon’s sweeping historical romances to Dean Koontz’s twisty thrillers, Julia Quinn’s clever Regency romps to Sarah J. Maas’s bold fantasies. I don’t stick to one genre or chase bestseller lists—I love unearthing hidden literary gems. To me it’s like a reader’s version of panning for gold. That thrill of discovering unique, authentic stories inspired the storyline of my novel, Conditional Love, which offers a fresh, unexpected narrative for readers who crave something real and unexpected.

There are two authors that have profoundly influenced my craft. Diana Gabaldon, with her Outlander series, is my gold standard. I am absolutely in love with her writing skill. Her meticulous attention to detail and profound emotional depth bring her stories to life in ways that inspire me no matter how many times I read them. She makes every moment vivid and every feeling resonate. Similarly, Rebecca Wells’ Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood was a revelation—it was one of the first books that mirrored the kind of story I wanted to tell, with a voice that felt like my own. Wells’ ability to craft complex, quirky, deeply relatable characters and to paint their lives with humor and grace has inspired me to create authentic, multifaceted people who linger with readers long after the page. These authors have not only influenced my style but also set a high bar that I strive to reach in my own writing.

Do you have a target reader?

My target reader for Conditional Love is women aged 30–55+, intelligent and resilient, who’ve faced some of life’s challenges and come out the other side. Women who seek stories of passionate, complex relationships over fleeting thrills, knowing the best things in life are a bit more complicated and a lot more delicious.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

The most important thing for me is to be able to write somewhere quiet, where I won’t have interruptions. I sit down with my notes and the outline of each chapter, imagine the scene in my mind, like I’m watching the movie version, and let it flow.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Yes, I absolutely outline, and then I create the rough draft that looks like a combination of an outline and a screenplay. I also make lists of all the characters and details about their backgrounds and personalities.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Both. I write a scene, read through it, make corrections. Then, I read it aloud. If there are any places where I stumble- I edit. Once a chapter is finished, I run through it all again before moving on to the next.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes, I did hire professional editors. I feel like its important to get more eyes and input. However, if the editor suggests something about content that I don’t agree with, I ask a beta reader to take a look. I find that editors, especially those that have worked for Big Pub, can bring a lot of BS thought processes with them from that experience. Personally, I feel that publishers are just as out of touch with readers as Hollywood is with movie goers. I don’t care what the industry wants me to write, I want to write what readers want to read. Beta readers help keep me on that path.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I’m a writer who “disappears” into the scenes I’m writing, as if writing in a trance. So, I like absolute quiet when I write, but I often listen to mood music before I write scenes that require certain emotions. 80s music is almost always my 1st choice.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

The first editor I worked with was employed by Big Pub and editing as a side gig. The notes she gave went something like:I absolutely loved this story and couldn’t put it down, but big publishers will want you to change this, and take that out, and your main character is being a terrible mother, they will want you to tone that down.’

Her notes would have turned Conditional Love into a shadow of itself that catered to readers who can’t handle reading about real life. Those types of readers are not my audience. I knew immediately that I would self-publish.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I had it professionally done.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have an advertising background, with a near zero advertising budget. I researched and implemented some of the things they tell you to do on a small budget and found that most  efforts won’t convert into sales for indie authors. The indie world, while offering a chance to publish without the roadblocks of Big Pub, is still a difficult environment to navigate. I’m someone who doesn’t spend a ton of time on social media, so my base is small. It’s important for an indie author to build their base of readers so they can connect, get opinions, and share their journeys. I’m very busy, without a lot of time to spend on social media, so this has been very challenging for me. I think a lot of authors have the same problem.

You may have written a bestseller or be the next Jane Austen, but without the publicity or chance to get your book into the hands of readers, you’re lost in the sea of indie published books.

The problem is, there’s no way to overcome it, except to painstakingly build that reader base. It has made me take a long look at the self-publishing industry and gave me some ideas for making it better. (More on that soon!)

That’s why Book Blogs like IndieView are so important. They provide new authors a chance to be discovered and offers readers a chance to find the next reading gem off the Big Pub beaten path.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Create a plan for marketing and begin implementing it many months before your planned publishing date. Build your base in as many organic ways that you can. Don’t take shortcuts with your work. Get the professional edits, listen to your beta readers, and have a professional cover created.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in a small town in Iowa.

Where do you live now?

Florida

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’d love for readers to join my Inner Circle at LAArbuckle.com for giveaways, updates, more info about my journey, and maybe a little bit of awareness coaching. Follow me on Instagram or Facebook to chat about Conditional Love, books, and the GenX life —my kind of bonding!

What are you working on now?

I’m currently writing Highly Leveraged, a women’s fiction romance about L.A. Wyatt, a fierce movie producer, and her unexpected romance with Cole Grayson, a Clooney-esque Hollywood star. It follows L.A.’s journey from loss to empowerment, balancing love, motherhood, and filmmaking passion against Hollywood’s cutthroat politics.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Conditional Love from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

2 thoughts on “IndieView with L.A. Arbuckle, author of Conditional Love

  1. Thank you so much for such a fantastic interview, Indie View! Since our interview, Conditional Love received a 5 Star review from Reader’s Choice and a top blogger in the UK. Thank you for being part of my journey and for giving indie authors an opportunity to be seen.

    • Thanks for doing it. Great to hear about the positive feedback you’ve been getting.

Comments are closed.